Comments on: Madden: the Deadspin Hall of Fame vote-buy is “one of the most despicable things I can ever think of”http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/
Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball.Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:40:04 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: largebillhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619342
Fri, 29 Nov 2013 15:38:20 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619342“one of the most despicable things I can ever think of.”

That statement is either a very damning indictment of his imagination or his memory, or both.

]]>By: largebillhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619341
Fri, 29 Nov 2013 15:36:51 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619341BBWAA didn’t vote Santo in at all. He came up short during his 15 years on the ballot. Eventually the Veterans Committee (which BBWAA has nothing to do with) did select him.
]]>By: jpalughi823http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619339
Fri, 29 Nov 2013 15:34:27 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619339Better than a bunch of old codgers thinking they are God when it comes to who gets in.
]]>By: raysfan1http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619303
Fri, 29 Nov 2013 04:03:39 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619303That is reasonable and therefore will never happen.
]]>By: paperlionshttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619246
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:00:56 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619246Yeah, my posts are multi-purpose….something in there for everyone, even zombie enthusiasts.
]]>By: anxovieshttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619238
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:52:46 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619238The NFL has a Hall of Fame?
]]>By: Kevin S.http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619235
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:50:20 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619235If this is one of the most despicable things Madden can ever think of, does that mean that A-Rod is no longer History’s Greatest Monster?
]]>By: Jonny 5http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619223
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:42:08 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619223I love this deadspin move. It highlights the fact that people own the right to vote for HOF inductees that don’t care about it. There are people voting who don’t know very much about baseball in general. I’m not saying its a majority of voters, but it’s enough to raise question of, why they have this right to begin with? Voting for players based on morals or lack of who have no right to point fingers due to their own lack of morals. I’d feel better leaving it up to computer program to be honest.
]]>By: godsmacked1http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619205
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 12:38:18 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619205In your “humble” opinion, right?
]]>By: macjacmccoyhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619197
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 10:22:54 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619197” Madden, when trying to illustrate why it’s so off-base to go after the BBWAA like Deadspin, this voter and other critics are, says “it’s because of the baseball writers — because it’s so hard to get into the Hall of Fame — that’s the reason this is the only Hall of Fame that anyone gives a damn about.”

Wow what an ass. Hey Madden do you think your might be a teenzy bit bias because you are a baseball writer and probably a bigger fan of baseball than football, hockey, or basketball? Me and probably a lot of other people care just as much about the Pro Football Hall of Fame as we do baseball’s version. Heck maybe even more people care about Canton then Cooperstown. Yea we might not have to hear football writers cry over it year after year, but that’s not because people dont care about it, its because they have the system figured out a lot better than you and your colleagues.

Football voters dont seem to have the ego you and your compatriots seem to have. They dont interject themselves into the process by casting their own personal set of moralities into the fray. They use the guidelines of the game to come to their decisions.

So what a lack of controversy means apathy? Not in my opinion . If fact in1990 the baseball hall fame averaged about 400,000 visitors a year. In the 20 years since it has dropped to 275,000 visitors with the sharpest decline coming in the last 5 years. While on the other hand Canton has held pat at 200,000 visitors per year.

To me it relates to any comparison you can make between baseball and football. For the older generations baseball was king. There is no denying that. Now though, the older and older that last great baseball loving generation gets the bigger the gap between football and baseball becomes. The hall of fame is probably no different. At one time Cooperstown was at the top of its niche and to be fair it still is. But now the more that generation dies off the fast the gap shrinks. Sooner or later football will take the lead in that too.

Not to single him out but I believe the main reason why is guys like Madden. Their insistence on being the moral guardians of baseball’s past in the present turns the younger crowd off. Kids dont want to hear the older generation tell them that their way was better, and they certainly dont want to hear those same old men preach about what is wrong with the current players and their fans. They want to watch the sport and enjoy the competition and not be told their favorite player is ruining the game by flipping his bat.

Baseball will continue to lose ground in every area of sport that they once held a firm grip on until guys like Madden come down out of their ivory tower and realize that actually they are the ones hurting the game, and not the athletes they like to point their fingers at.

(Sorry if it was a hard read, I know I bounced around a bit to much, thanks for the patients if you made it this far)

]]>By: Francisco (FC)http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619182
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 05:28:22 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619182Once again you provide the setup. I actually started imagining what would happen if Jeff Kent, went all zombie-survivor on Bill Madden and tried to chomp his ass! (or if you don’t think Jeff Kent is a HoF, substitute your favorite).
]]>By: DJ MChttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619174
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 04:52:04 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619174I know it is highly unlikely, but it would be the best Christmas gift to the baseball world if it turns out that Peter Gammons offered up his vote to Deadspin (for cash or not).

That might burn the BBWAA to the ground. The most respected baseball writer of the last thirty-five years, and certainly the best known and most read, working to make a mockery of the system in place.

It would be good if it were Ken Rosenthal or Buster Olney or Tom Verducci, too, but no one else would have the same impact.

]]>By: chill1184http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619154
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 03:35:49 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619154The ironic part (at least to me anyway) is that most of the sports mainstream media is a joke but the clowns at Deadspin aren’t much better. However at least Deadspin, at the very least open about their obnoxiousness and general douchebaggery. Also does Madden seriously think that one ballot (amusing Deadspin only bought one) is going to make a difference? I highly doubt it
]]>By: wmatthew760http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619149
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 03:03:49 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619149Should of the writer sold his vote….no , but I see the point that he is trying to make
And it is very valid. I would hope this writer is outspoken during the voting process . The baseball hall is a joke. We all have our opinions for PED users, but to hold other legit players accountable for that is ridiculous. This thing is so screwed up how in the world is jim rice able to get in the hall before Andre Dawson? Jack Morris has been closer than he should be.
Craig Biggio and Mike Pizzia possibly the best at their positions and didn’t get in ?
There needs to be a better process and the writers need to move on from the PED stigmatism .
]]>By: indaburghttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/comment-page-2/#comment-619128
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 01:40:57 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619128“Indeed, if I were a senior or managing member of the BBWAA I’d be angry too, in that it makes the organization look like a joke.”

The organization doesn’t just look like a joke–it IS a joke. Last year, they had a stacked ballot and no one got in. That’s not a joke? They allowed themselves to become a joke by keeping voters with no vested interest in the sport whatsoever. Courtesy of Sports Illustrated, I learned that all three writers of GolfersWest.com have a vote while people like Vin Scully and Bill James do not. Do a better job of vetting who votes, and this doesn’t mockery of a mockery doesn’t happen.

Madden is misdirecting his anger. He should direct it towards the BBWAA itself. The person who sold his vote is doing them a favor by bringing attention to the problem.

]]>By: paperlionshttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/27/madden-the-deadspin-hall-of-fame-vote-buy-is-one-of-the-most-despicable-things-i-can-ever-think-of/#comment-619106
Thu, 28 Nov 2013 00:51:15 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=505099#comment-619106Not really. It doesn’t matter how many votes Maddux gets, he’s getting in. The 100% vote thing is made up silliness that affects nothing. Guys that should make the HOF being dropped off of the ballot because the BWWAA is too stupid to have reasonable rules and the HOF is too stupid to have well defined voting criteria, resulting in the high likelihood of deserving players being dropped from the ballot is far more important and a better use of a vote.

One of the worst things to happen in HOF voting in recent years was Lou Whittaker being dropped from the ballot his first year, despite being every bit the 2B than Sandberg was and easily a top 10 2B all-time.